My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of

cake is so

and a paper plate, preparing to cut

and pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she

head of the group, which happened to be a

must sing the ‘Happy

her

Rachel must blow

her head to indicate to Julian that there was no need

had the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

says you have to say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young voice piped up

a little girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at her with pretty, sparkling

the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles

to say thank you!” their parents

Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed closer and

finally smiled for the first time in days.

with me.” Walking her back to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is

worry about me. I never wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point,

“Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately, so make sure to keep warm since you have a

she turned and headed toward the

her apartment and about

loud slam, the door was propped open by a large hand

darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on it.

out on business?

sideways into the house and shut the door before surveying

“I see you’ve been getting along fine without

steps back. Why

stalked toward her as he pulled off his necktie

icebergs as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin

approached her, forcing her back inch by

Rachel had no idea

of her arm and pulled, she staggered after him and